Listen to the new Evita Cast Recording on AOL Music — Page 3

I'll never understand why people assume those who don't enjoy an actor's performance don't because they aren't the original. It can't possibly be that simplistic!

I've defended Roger on here before because, as much as I'd fight for people's right to an opinion, it started to get real ugly at one point, with people saying she cannot sing at all and is a no-talent. That's not only unfair, it's untrue. And I'm not thrilled with the way she sounds on the new cast recording but being a no-talent and a non-singer have nothing to do with it. You know, there IS such a thing as an actor just not fitting well into a role. Doesn't necessarily = no-talent.

I understand how people can get frustrated and attack LuPone, but realize you're just as small-minded in doing that as those who say Roger has no talent at all and can't sing.

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I agree with Scorpion and My Oh My. When I saw the show, Roger hit every note perfectly. I think what most people mean when they say she can't sing the role is that they don't like the way she sings the role--which is a perfectly fair opinion to have.

For the record, I am a HUGE fan of LuPone, and the original production starring her was the first Bway show I ever saw. (And incidentally, apart from the low notes on the phrase "star quality," she pretty much sounded as she did on the OBCR.) That will always be my favorite Eva. But I think Roger is wonderful.

Besty, I think that's the problem with the production as a whole. It's rather stately and pageant-like.

Though I actually think Roger sounds much more fiery than when I saw the show in previews.

Although I love the production, one problem I *do* have with it (it was like this in London too) is the removal of the line "But your despicable class is dead! Look who they are calling for now!". I can't understand why Grandage would remove it; it's not anti-Peronist if he wanted to tone down the negative propaganda and it continues the motif of Eva's war against the upper classes, the music even showing this as it's the same music that accompanies the "Screw the middle classes" line. And for some reason the remark that provokes that from Eva on the concept album and in the original production ("Things have reached a pretty pass...") is given to Che, which makes no sense at all. Why would he care whether someone "pretty lower class can be respected and admired"? Surely he's more interested in what she stands for rather than what her class origins are.

But yes, it seems not only Che, but Eva has been somewhat whitewashed in the transition to Broadway. Overall it was grittier in London. Although I approve of a lot of the staging changes that have been made, one I didn't like was a small difference in 'And the Money Kept Rolling In". When Eva presented money for the first time in that number, she looked mean as hell while she was giving it and handed the money over with a robotic, machine-like action without even looking at the recipient. On Broadway, and as seen in the Tony performance, she just hands the money over in a very natural, almost generous way. No sign of the evil grin she had in London. I really miss that because it kept the two pro- and anti-Eva ideas floating about at the same time. It was a really ambiguous moment which I thought highlighted the genius of the piece: you don't know how to react to her (which is a bad thing for many critics of the show, but I find it a strength) because on the one hand she's giving out money, while on the other, you begin to question what on earth is her motivation for doing it.

Updated On: 6/27/12 at 11:48 AM

Wouldn't it be delicious and wonderful if there were message boards 30-40 year ago, and we could read the obsessive nightly bitching about Patti Lupone's screechy vocals because she couldn't sing the score properly, and how much better Terri Klausner was [which by many accounts she was].

Patti Lupone is remarkable, but even SHE has freely and constantly admitted she didn't sound like the OBCR or Tony Awards most of the time. From some audience reports [and reviews], she screeched through the score much like almost every woman to come after her.

I think Elena Roger is a dynamo performer, and she blew me away in this show. I adored her performance. No, her vocals weren't perfect, but i thought that SHE was. I'm a fan for life.

^I actually think Elena sounds a lot like Elaine Paige sometimes when she's going for the high notes. Maybe it's just me.

As far as the whole LuPone vs. Roger argument goes in general, I encourage you all to go research Eva Peron and read up about her. I did an entire project on her for a class and it's pretty darn clear that Roger is more like Eva than LuPone could ever dream of being. Not saying she wasn't fantastic or anything, because she was, but we also need to remember that this is a completely different production too. It's time to move on.

The CD definitely sounds a lot better than the steam, but the ensemble still sounds weird to me. I think they did something on purpose to make them sound more like a large crowd, but the effect is lost on me. They just sound far away.

Saw Ms. LuPone in the role 7 times. Saw Ms. Roger 7 times. Read every tedious biography. Have since it's release, kept myself breathing through the hell that is the film version twice. Dirty shame we only have limited recordings released to us of the original Hal Prince production with Ms. LuPone and Mr. Patinkin... but there is no question, when sitting in that theatre, that Ms. Roger is Eva. Much prefer the original production... you, me, and every other old queen... but younger generations will be telling their kids of their experience... whether or not Mr. Martin is brought up in those conversations, well we can hope for the best.

CATSNYREVIVAL Of course it all comes down to opinion. But honestly, we've been so lucky that we've been given two actresses that sing instead of some bloody name. And we can talk about the identical vocal struggles the actresses have had and who has the better voice at the end of the day... But it makes me smile to read of both actresses being backed up. Just two fine actresses that display Eva's soul in the spotlight using their god given talents to the best of their ability.

I may be shot for this but I love Elena as Eva.

From what I read in recent weeks I couldn't help but think this show was a wreck. However, with the exception of Ricky Martin, I am quite enjoying this new recording. I love the power behind Max Von Essen's voice, I dig anything with Michael Cerveris, and a very much enjoy Elena's unique vocals in this recording. Her accent, her diction, her vibrato. It isn't your "typical" Broadway actress performance or voice. She gives something I haven't heard before and I appreciate and applaud her for that. She's not trying to be LuPone or Covington and that's what I love. Patti's belt is legendary but I wouldn't want it emulated or repeated in this cast recording.

Elena brings something completely all her own to the recording - and it's an improvement over her 2006 take. I like that I get to hear Eleana be tender and soft when she should be in the character. Eva Peron herself was a very self-conscious woman who sought approval, and even had her assistant sleep in her room with her on the Rainbow Tour. She wasn't always a powerhouse bi*tch as Patti's belt suggests.

I love some of the new orchestrations - especially in the Montage. The orchestra does sound "tinny" at times but that is the fault of the album producers.

I just have no warmth for Ricky Martin. I don't expect him to be Mandy Patinkin, but he lacks a lustre that should come through in the performance of the character and, thus, the recording. It's almost as if he took several years off from singing, showed up one day, cleared his throat and just started singing. Not to mention, his phrasing and intonnation often don't match the text her is trying to convey.

Cerveris's (sp?) Peron makes Bob Gunton seem/sound to be a characature. His love for Eva, which I hear is powerful live, comes through brilliantly on the recording.

Again, I was more than pleasantly surprised by Ms. Roger after hearing such criticism. She won me over with her unique vocal stylings and interpretation. Definitely adding it to my collection!

I like the stream of it. I find myself drawn to it, so I really need to purchase the 2 CD set. I enjoy it and I'm so happy that it is not an exact duplicate of the previous recordings and has elements that make it stand apart from them.

^^^^ THIS! Well said!